Hoddle hails the new 'Brooking'

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012

Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle today tipped Slovenian international Milenko Acimovic to become a big favourite at White Hart Lane next season.

The 24-year-old midfielder was signed on a free transfer from Red Star Belgrade last week and Hoddle also likened him to former West Ham and England midfielder Trevor Brooking.

Acimovic is with the Slovenia squad preparing for the World Cup finals while Spurs await the arrival of a work permit in order to complete formalities.

But manager Hoddle revealed that he and his staff had watched hours of footage of the midfielder in action before moving to sign him.

Hoddle said: "We've been watching and monitoring him for some time, and been across to see him and watched lots and lots of tapes.

"He virtually got Slovenia to the World Cup on his own. He scored four goals in qualifying games and that is terrific against good opposition.

"He is a very creative player from midfield and at 24 years of age he's one for the future for us. Fans at the moment won't know much about him but they'll take to him.

"He has a little bit of the style of Trevor Brooking in that he rides challenges, he's strong on the ball and gets in and scores goals. Milenko is a level-headed lad, wants to learn and he's one with an eye on the future.

"It's pretty obvious what we went for this season with Teddy Sheringham and Gus Poyet and that worked out well as they've been our most consistent players. But we need to look at the bigger picture and we are starting to do that."

Hoddle, meanwhile, ruled out any return this weekend for injured first-team stars Dean Richards, Ledley King, Tim Sherwood and Christian Ziege. "There is no chance of anyone coming back," he said. "They are just starting to do some running and getting out onto the training ground but this game will come too quickly for any of them to come back."

However, Sergei Rebrov could make his last appearance in a Tottenham shirt after recovering from a virus.

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